A killdeer stands in a salt panne, reaching down for a morsel of food.
Usually I see "Parking Lot" Plovers in parking lots. Here is a wayfaring Killdeer visiting plover habitat. #killdeer #bird #birdphotography #birdsofmassachusetts #allenspondreserve
A hawk sits among rocks at the edge of a pool in the North Woods of Central Park. It is facing right in the frame and is clearly shaking because droplets are flying everywhere.
Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #SplashingAround, any bird making a splash. Here's a Red-tailed Hawk in Central Park, NYC. First, lower the nictitating membranes! Second, splash away! #redtailedhawk #bird #birdphotography
A Goldfinch is perched on a blooming branch. It is facing the camera, showing its bright yellow throat and breast blending into a white vent. The black forehead patch sits above an orange bill. There are a few stray winter feathers remaining from its molt into breeding plumage.
Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Petals&Perches any bird with flowers in capture. Here is an American Goldfinch with early spring buds. #americangoldfinch #bird #birdphotography
American Oystercatcher has been back for well over a week, maybe more. This is my first encounter in 2026.
Killdeer. I've been hearing them for days but I finally caught a sight of two birds as they flew across the marsh, calling loudly.
Glossy Ibis. I have been visiting my usual ibis locations for over a week and, finally, got sight of this one flying up the Sakonnet River. Ironically, I happened upon a large flock (20+ birds) a short time later.
Willet. I've heard them call loudly and relentlessly but hadn't caught sight of one until I found two in the tidal pool at the beach in Tiverton.
Migration is just starting to pick up but in the meantime, summer residents are returning. #bird #birdphotography #birdsofrhodeisland #tiverton #seapowetbeach #seapowetmarsh
Set ALT for ids.
An Osprey collects itself as it rests in the water after capturing a large fish. It is looking to the left and seems to be reassuring itself that the ascent can be made.
This was the last photo before my battery failed. The Osprey stayed in the water for a moment the way they do when the prey is large. As I fumbled a fresh battery into the camera, the Osprey rose up but, dagnabbit, I missed it. #osprey #bird #birdphotography #birdsofrhodeisland #littlecompton
A Groove-billed Ani for today's #BirdOfTheDay theme #ComeEatWithMe, birds who have food in their beaks. This photo was taken in a compost area of a resort on the Mayan riviera. I love compost areas!
Anhingas don't look so much like snake birds when they are dry and floofy
and I thought I was going to get extra extra points ...
Profile shot of an Anhinga in Sanibel Island, Florida.
Profile shot of a Bobolink at Allens Pond Preserve in Westport, Massachusetts
If I hadn't got this Canvasback recently, I would have been forced to use an ancient shot of a Chukar for a one-word named bird. That photo was awful!
With a photobombing plover, a profile shot of a Dunlin near the water's edge at Gooseberry Island, Westport, Massachusetts
The #BirdOfTheDay theme is #ABCD, let’s do this, any bird beginning any part of their name with these letters. Extra points for a set using all: Here are #Anhinga, #Bobolink, #Canvasback, and #Dunlin - a set of birds with one-worded names. #bird #birdphotography
The weird black and red feet of the Surf Scoter drake.
A scoter drake sits of a rock at water's edge, facing right. It is exactly as funny looking as in the water, with his long multicolor bill with a big black spot. The forehead white blotch is well-developed but there are only a few visible white feathers on is nape, making this a young male. Look in comments for a photo of his weird black and red feet.
Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #DucksOutOfWater, any Duck that is out of the water but NOT FLYING. Here is a Surf Scoter at rest at Gooseberry Island, Westport, Massachusetts early in funny-looking duck season (aka Winter) a few years back. #surfscoter #bird #birdphotography
A nuthatch clings to the side of a bird feeder, holding a seed.
The #BirdOfTheDay theme today is #FeederFriends birds you might see at your feeder. A White-breasted Nuthatch is practically upside down while stealing a seed from my feeders.
#whitebreastednuthatch #bird #birdphotography #birdsofrhodeisland #littlecompton
I can walk to the water but I don't live near it. I was quite surprised that the osprey chose my neighborhood for lunch. It's a great branch so maybe more???
A swallow-tailed gull looks toward the camera, red eyerings on full display.
#BirdOfTheDay theme is #HeadShots, any head shot will do, the Alt Theme is #Gulls. I decided to go for both themes with a tight crop of a Swallow-tailed Gull from the Galapagos Islands.
Love them all but I'm knocked out by the gannet. Well done!
I stepped out my side porch to find that an Osprey decided to dine al fresco on my neighbor's tree. #osprey #bird #birdphotography #birdsofrhodeisland #littlecomton
The head of a Wood Thrush juts up from a nest.
Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #LeafandLight. Here is a Wood Thrush parent sitting on a nest tucked into a bush. Just a bit of light and a bit of camera sneak past the leaves.
Here is a photo, moments later, with a bit more context!
A still pond at a farm in Tiverton, RI casts perfect reflections of two geese feeding near the water's edge. Both birds appear to be upside down, with the leftmost bird reaching up to touch the grass and the second bird standing at attention.
Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #reflections. There was no specific suggestion to include a bird, so here is a reflection which I find somewhat disorienting. #canadagoose #bird #birdphotography
I didn't include it in this post but a highlight was watching a seal "hop" up onto the far end of the little island - not an easy task. Out of the water, they are built for lying around!
So difficult to count but I think there are 8 seals lying together on their rock off the sandbar at Sakonnet Point. Several others fell out of frame. This count is much lower than earlier in the season.
On a beautiful spring morning, I strolled to the tip of the Sakonnet sandbar for a late season shot of our wintering Harbor Seals. #harborseal #wildlifeofrhodeisland #littlecompton #lloydsbeach
A Mexican Jay stands an a small rock, facing the camera. Its blue cap, rump, and tail set off from a white vent and gray breast.
The #BirdOfTheDay theme today is #JKLMNOP, any bird that has any of these letters at the beginning of their first or second names: Here is a Mexican Jay, with those letters at the beginnings of both words in the name. #mexicanjay #bird #birdphotography
I have many fun shots in my library. You are giving me a reason to pay some. Thanks!
A Greater Yellowlegs takes a step at Almy Marsh. This recent arrival will spend the summer in the marshes of Rhode Island.
Compare the size of the rather petite Greater Yellowlegs with the larger Ring-billed Gull
Summer birds are arriving. Here is my first of season Greater Yellowlegs. In the second photo it is approaching a (medium-sized) Ring-billed Gull. #greateryellowlegs #ringbilledgull #bird #birdphotography #birdsofrhodeisland #littlecompton
A swallow perches atop a rusty gate. It is drab brown with an off white breast and bellow. The bird is perched facing left, looking right. Its long brown wings extend beyond its tail.
Summer birds are arriving. Here is my first of season Northern Rough-winged Swallow doing my favorite swallow thing: sitting. #northernroughwingedswallow #bird #birdphotography #birdsofrhodeisland #littlecompton
A heron poses on the right side of the frame, facing left. It standing at the edge of a small pond. A bit farther back and to the left, another heron is fishing with its neck stretched and bill in the water.
Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #LongNecks, birds with long necks. I choose to post one bird with a long neck and another with a short neck, both Green Herons. #greenheron #bird #birdphotography
A head and shoulders shot of a Great Egret facing away from the camera. The bill is pointed slightly left, bill open, with the business end of a small fish is sticking out like a tongue.
Looking over a Great Egret's shoulder to get an unusual perspective of a fish going down the hatch. #greategret #bird #birdphotography #birdsofrhodeisland #littlecompton
A vireo perches on a mossy branch looking toward the camera. It is lit from the right, with deep shadow stretches across its back and tail.
Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Woodland. White-eyed Vireos will be showing up later in the spring at the nature preserve down the road. #whiteeyedvireo